Inflatable curtain airbag systems

ABSTRACT

A curtain airbag system includes a sail panel. The sail panel may be attached with an inflatable curtain of the curtain airbag system.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a divisional of application Ser. No. 11/669,444,filed Jan. 31, 2007, which is hereby incorporated by reference in itsentirety.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The invention relates to inflatable curtain airbag systems.

2. Background Discussion

Vehicle curtain airbag systems may include a sail panel to reduceoccupant limb excursion through a front corner of the vehicle if thecurtain airbag system is deployed.

Packaging space for pre-deployed curtain airbag systems may be limited.Curtain airbag systems including a sail panel may require more packagingspace than curtain airbag systems not including a sail panel.

It is desirable to reduce the amount of packaging space required forpre-deployed curtain airbag systems including a sail panel.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Embodiments of the invention may take the form of a curtain airbagsystem for a vehicle having a passenger compartment with a front corner.The system includes an inflatable curtain having a front edge and a sailpanel for reducing occupant limb excursion through the front corner ofthe passenger compartment if the system is deployed. The sail panel hasan overlapping portion including an overlapping edge that overlaps atleast a portion of the front edge of the inflatable curtain. The sailpanel is intermittently attached with the inflatable curtain along theoverlapping edge.

Embodiments of the invention may include an inflatable curtain having afront edge and a first tether attached to the inflatable curtain formaintaining the inflatable curtain in a desired position if the systemis deployed. The system may also include a sail panel attached to thefirst tether for reducing occupant limb excursion through the frontcorner of the passenger compartment if the system is deployed. At leasta portion of the sail panel does not overlap the front edge of theinflatable curtain.

The system may also include an inflatable curtain having front andbottom edges. The front edge forms an angle with the bottom edge. Thesystem also includes a sail panel for reducing occupant limb excursionthrough the front corner of the passenger compartment if the system isdeployed. The sail panel has an overlapping portion including anoverlapping edge that overlaps at least a portion of the front edge ofthe inflatable curtain. The sail panel is attached to the inflatablecurtain along the overlapping edge. The overlapping edge forms an anglewith the bottom edge of the inflatable curtain different than the angleformed by the front and bottom edges of the inflatable curtain.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a vehicle environment for an embodimentof a deployed curtain airbag system.

FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of an embodiment of a sail panel and aportion of an inflatable curtain.

FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram of an alterative embodiment of a sailpanel and a portion of an inflatable curtain.

FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram of another alterative embodiment of a sailpanel and a portion of an inflatable curtain.

FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram of yet another alterative embodiment of asail panel and a portion of an inflatable curtain.

FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram of still another alterative embodiment ofa sail panel and a portion of an inflatable curtain.

FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram, in cross-section, of a vehicleenvironment for an embodiment of a pre-deployed curtain airbag system.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of an environment for curtain airbagsystem 10 if system 10 is deployed. The environment includes vehicle 12having a front corner 14 including A-pillar 15 of passenger compartment16.

FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of a portion of system 10. System 10includes inflatable curtain 18 which is made from reinforced nylon. Ifdeployed, curtain 18 is filed with gas from an airbag inflator (notshown). Gas travels along fill tube 20 and into curtain 18. Fill tube 20includes crimped end 22 with hole 23 drilled through to mount system 10to A-pillar 15 (FIG. 1). Curtain 18 includes front edge 24.

System 10 also includes triangular shaped sail panel 26 which is madefrom reinforced nylon. Overlapping portion 28 overlaps a portion ofinflatable curtain 18. Overlapping portion 28 includes overlapping edge30. Sail panel 26 is sewn at linearly spaced intervals to curtain 18along overlapping edge 30, as shown at 32. Sail panel 26 may be attachedalternatively to curtain 18 along overlapping edge 30 in any desiredfashion, e.g., riveted.

System 10 further includes retainer clip 34 attached with sail panel 26and configured to be attached with a base of A-pillar 15 (FIG. 1).

If system 10 is deployed, sail panel 26 reduces occupant limb excursionthrough front corner 14 (FIG. 1) of passenger compartment 16 (FIG. 1).

FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram of an alternative embodiment of a portionof system 10. Numbered elements of FIG. 3, and numbered elements of anyadditional figures, that differ by multiples of 100 relative to numberedelements of FIG. 2 have similar descriptions, e.g., 118 and 18 are eachcurtains.

FIG. 3 shows that portions of sail panel 26 do not overlap front edge124 of curtain 118.

FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram of an alternative embodiment of a portionof system 10. System 210 includes tether 236 attached, e.g., sewn, tocurtain 218 for maintaining curtain 218 in a desired position if system10 is deployed (FIG. 1). Sail panel 226 is attached to tether 236 andcurtain 218. A portion of sail panel 226 does not overlap front edge 224of curtain 218. Sail panel 226 may be attached to curtain 218 in anydesired fashion, e.g., sewn, riveted.

FIG. 5 is schematic diagram of an alternative embodiment of a portion ofsystem 10. System 310 includes tethers 336, 337. Sail panel 326 isattached to tethers 336, 337, e.g., sewn. Sail panel 326 does notoverlap front edge 324 of curtain 318.

FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram of an alternative embodiment of a portionof system 10. Curtain 418 includes front edge 424 and bottom edge 438.Front edge 424 and bottom 438 form angle 440.

Sail panel 426 includes overlapping portion 428 and overlapping edge430. Sail panel 426 is sewn or riveted to curtain 418 along overlappingedge 430. Overlapping edge 430 and bottom edge 438 of inflatable curtain418 form angle 442. Angle 440 and angle 442 are different.

FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram, in cross-section, of an environment inwhich system 10 is installed in vehicle 12. The environment includesroof structures 44, roof panel 46, trim panel 48, grab handle assembly50 attached to grab handle bracket 52, and headliner 54.

Curtain 18 and sail panel 26 are rolled up as shown. The amount ofpackaging space available for system 10 in its pre-deploymentconfiguration is limited. The configurations as generally described withreference to FIGS. 2-6 and further as described herein reduce the spacetaken up by overlapping portion 28.

While embodiments of the invention have been illustrated and described,it is not intended that these embodiments illustrate and describe allpossible forms of the invention. Rather, the words used in thespecification are words of description rather than limitation, and it isunderstood that various changes may be made without departing from thespirit and scope of the invention.

1. A curtain airbag system for a vehicle having a passenger compartmentwith a front corner, the system comprising: an inflatable curtain havinga front edge; and a sail panel configured to reduce occupant limbexcursion through the front corner of the passenger compartment if thesystem is deployed, the sail panel having an overlapping portionincluding a discontinuous overlapping edge that overlaps at least aportion of the front edge of the inflatable curtain, the sail panelbeing attached at linearly spaced intervals with the inflatable curtainalong the discontinuous overlapping edge.
 2. The system of claim 1wherein the sail panel has a triangular shape.
 3. The system of claim 1wherein the sail panel is sewn to the inflatable curtain.
 4. The systemof claim 1 wherein the sail panel is riveted to the inflatable curtain.5. The system of claim 1 wherein at least a portion of the sail paneldoes not overlap the front edge of the inflatable curtain.